DrugsA drug is any chemical you take that effects the way your body works. Alcohol, caffeine, aspirin and nicotine are al drugs. A drug must be able to pass from you body into your brain. Once inside your brain, drugs can chance the messages you brain cells are sending to each other, and to the rest of your body. They do this by interfering with your brain’s own chemical signal: neurotransmitters that transfer signals across synapses Heroin is an opiate processed directly from the extracts of the opium poppy. It was originally created to help cure people of addiction to morphine. Upon crossing the blood-brain barrier, which occurs soon after introduction of the drug into the bloodstream, heroin is converted into morphine, which mimics the action of endorphins, creating a sense of well-being; the characteristic euphoria has been described as an “orgasm” centered in the gut. One of the most common methods of heroin use is via intravenous injection.

Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant, giving rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. It is most often used recreationally for this effect. Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant.

Methamphetamime, popularly shortened to meth or ice, is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic drug. Methamphetamine enters the brain and triggers a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Since it stimulates the mesolimbic reward pathway, causing euphoria and excitement, it is prone to abuse and addiction. Users may become obsessed or perform repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-washing, or assembling and disassembling objects. Withdrawal is characterized by excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.

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...Top 10 Drugs and Their EffectsDrug abuse is a very common problem in most countries so it seemed like a good topic for a list. This is a list of ten of the most abused drugs and the effects they have on people.
1. Heroin
Heroin is an opiate processed directly from the extracts of the opium poppy. It was originally created to help cure people of addiction to morphine. Upon crossing the blood-brain barrier, which occurs soon after introduction of the drug into the bloodstream, heroin is converted into morphine, which mimics the action of endorphins, creating a sense of well-being; the characteristic euphoria has been described as an “orgasm” centered in the gut. One of the most common methods of heroin use is via intravenous injection.
2. Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant, giving rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. It is most often used recreationally for this effect. Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant. Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours, depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, and method of administration. The initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure,...

...2013年12月9日
Drug Abuse - Overview - NY Times Health
Drug Abuse Overview
Drug abuse is the use of illicit drugs, or the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs. The abuse of legitimate drugs (prescription or over-the-counter) can happen when people use the drugs in a manner or in quantities other than directed, or for purposes that are not legitimate. See also drug abuse first aid and drug abuse and dependence. Reference from A.D.A.M.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Heroin abuse; Substance abuse; Marijuana abuse; Illicit drug abuse; Narcotic abuse; Cocaine abuse; Hallucinogen abuse; PCP abuse; LSD abuse
MARIJUANA
About 2 in 5 Americans have used marijuana (also called "grass," "pot," "reefer," "joint," "hashish," "cannabis," "weed," and "Mary Jane") at least once. Approximately 10% of the population uses it on a regular basis. Next to tobacco, and alcohol in some areas, marijuana is the most popular substance young people use regularly. The source of marijuana is the hemp plant (cannabis sativa). The active ingredients are THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and other cannabinoids, which are found in the leaves and flowering shoots of the plant. Hashish is a resinous substance, taken from the tops of female plants. It contains the highest concentration of THC. The drug dose delivered from any particular preparation...

...December 2012
Illicit Drugs: Effects One and All
The world is full of addiction. “Addiction is when you can give up something at any time, as long as it’s next Tuesday.” (Sixx) This seems reasonable to many individuals, and some have a tendency to get involved with LSD (Acid, Purple Haze, Trip, One Way), Heroin (Smack, Brown Sugar, Black Pearl, Scat), MDMA (Ecstasy, Tic Tac Candy, X, Roll), Cocaine (Crack, Blow, Coke, Nose Candy, Snow), and Methamphetamine (Speed, White Crunch, Crank). These are the most known and used of the illicit, or ‘street,’ drugs. The drugs affect people in multiple ways whether they know it or not, starting with the individual status and then moving on to the bigger picture of society. Each drug will be explored separately for a greater on look of the overall effects that these drugs have.
LSD
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports LSD statistics and facts saying more than 200,000 people use LSD for the first time each year. Acid is a hallucinogenic drug, generally taken orally, with “trips” lasting for up to 12 hours. The effects of an acid trip are quite unpredictable, varying due to the dosage, the expectations when taken, the mood the user is in, and the personality of the user. LSD trips can cause...

...Drug use in the U.S has taken a turn for the worse and has become more common, especially in young adults. Not only is illegal drugs but prescribed drugs are also being abused as well. There are many drugs I can name that are being abused from what I know myself, but there are several others that I myself have never heard of. No matter what it may be, and how it may be used, no drugs are meant to be abused and used for the wrong intentions. For every action, there is a consequence and the consequence is far worse than what the drug may bring to you.
Illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines are only a few of the most common illegal drugs being abused, by young adults especially. These drugs can be used to treat any pain such as emotional, physical, and mental pain, but only for a short moment. Some people also do the drug to simply get the temporary high it gives, peer pressure, or just to fit in. Some things I’ve heard about these drugs from people I know is that they make you feel good, you can’t feel anything when using, and the truth will come out of you and stuff like that. Other things I’ve heard is the consequences it has left people I know such as car accidents, heart problems, jail, and the list goes on. Whatever the consequence may be, I know it the temporary drug...

...What is a drug?
A drug may be defined as any substance other than food that by its chemical nature affects the structure and function of the living organism.
Why do people use drugs?
It has been shown that there are two main reasons why people use drugs.
1. Using drugs because it feels good and/or their friends are doing it
2. Using drugs because they are suffering from emotional or physical abuse, or because they suffer from mental disorders.
When is it considered abuse?
Medical and governmental authorities have defined abuse as the non-medical use of a substance. According to American Psychiatric Association 2000, abuse of a drug is referred to as a maladaptive pattern of repeated use that brings on significant adverse consequences, including the failure to fulfill obligations, repeated use in physically hazardous situations, as well as recurrent social, interpersonal, and legal problems.
• There is a difference between abuse and dependence. When someone abuses a drug, that means they are using it without medical or legal consent. Dependence involves compulsive use. When someone is dependent on a drug, that means they actually crave the drug or that they literally need it.
Types of drugs 11 types:
• alcohol • amphetamines • caffeine • cannabis • cocaine • hallucinogens • inhalant • nicotine • opiates...

...Drug Profile
Drug Profile
*
* Addiction is an escape of experiencing control it is an illusion and a mood altering experience. A pathological relationship with life-threatening or negative consequences, it is the experience that is addicting. People can become addicted to anything that alters our mood or consciousness. Addiction can be about self-harm and when done repeatedly it will stop or ease emotional pain that a person may be going through. An individual’s addiction can show an increased psychological and physiological dependence on the substance, and the person will cannot live a normal life. A drug addicted person will become unable to cope without the drug they are addicted too. Addiction can lead to antisocial behavior, violence; crime of all sorts, even murder to get what they want. Giving up drug addiction takes strength, mind strength mostly because the mind is responsible for the addiction. It is the beginning of addiction and the end of addiction. The mind and the body crave pleasure and stimulate neurotransmitters in the brain and the addiction finds pleasure in the drugs and the sensation itself. Any withdrawals from the drug will bring about depression, irritability, suicidal thoughts, restlessness, and anxiety. Addiction is mind control and can be overcome if the person wants, learning about his or her condition will give insight and...

...DRUG ADDICTION
DRUG:
A chemical substance that alters the function of one or more body organs or the process of a disease. Drugs include prescribed medicines over the counter remedies and various other substances such as alcohol, tobacco and drugs of abuse that are used for non-medical purposes.
Drugs are substances other than food that affect the way your mind and body works (Al Robertson et al).DRUG ABUSE
Drug abuse is definable mainly in terms of societal disapproval. It may involve experimental and recreational use of drugs, which is usually illegal with risk of arrest; unsanctioned use of psychoactive drugs to relieve problems or symptoms; or use of drugs first for the previous two reasons but later because of dependence and the need to continue at least partially to prevent the discomfort of withdrawal. Abuse of prescription and illegal drugs occurs in all socioeconomic groups, including among persons with advanced education and professional status. However, the most devastating use of psychoactive drugs still occurs in the context of poverty.
This is the use of a drug for a purpose other than that for which it was prescribed or recommended for.
DRUG ADDICTION
Addiction, a concept without a consistent, universally accepted definition, is used here to refer to...

...factor. These substances, which are called psychoactive drugs, are what people become addicted to and are described as chemicals that affect mental processes and behavior by temporarily changing perception and awareness. There are many different theories about what addiction is and why it happens but none have been proven.
When a person uses psychoactive drugs they are releasing chemicals into their brain which causes a disturbance in the way the brain communicates. This usually causes powerful sensations such as hallucinations, euphoric highs, loss of feelings (such as feelings of pain), and depressed motoring abilities. The scientific impact that drugs have on the brain is quite complext and each drugeffects it differently. When we take a drug our body has to extract the chemicals and run them through our blood stream to the brain. Once the chemicals enter the brain they attach themselves to synaptic receptors on neurons. By doing this, depending on what kind of drug has been taken, the chemicals either stimulate or block the signals sent from the presynaptic cell membrane to the receptor site on the postsynaptic cell membrane. The brain signals, which in this case are being blocked or stimulated by chemicals, are called neurotransmitters. There are 3 types of neurotransmitters which, when tampered with by drugs, produce the side effects...